The United Nations Security Council convened an urgent meeting on Monday at the request of Russia, as the conflict in Gaza continued to fan tensions across the Middle East, raising concerns about regional peace and security. The meeting followed a series of escalating incidents that have raised the risk of further military escalation in the region.
UN Political Affairs Chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, delivered a briefing to the ambassadors, emphasizing the critical need for intervention to prevent further escalation and ease tensions across the Middle East. She underscored the growing tensions that have engulfed multiple countries in the region.
DiCarlo pointed out that UN Secretary-General António Guterres had repeatedly warned about the risk of military escalation since the Hamas terror attacks of October 7th that ignited the region. She highlighted the alarming statistics, noting that there had been approximately 165 attacks on United States facilities in Syria and Iraq, which prompted retaliatory US strikes in both countries.
It is pertinent to note that, on January 28th, a drone attack resulted in the tragic deaths of three US service members and injuries to 40 others at a US base in northeast Jordan. In a further escalation, on February 2nd, the US conducted 85 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, targeting reported Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Forces and affiliated groups. The US clarified that it was not seeking conflict in the Middle East but was instead targeting command and control operations, intelligence centers, and weapons facilities. However, both Syria and Iraq condemned the strikes and claimed civilian casualties.
The situation in the region has become increasingly volatile
The situation in the region has become increasingly volatile, as DiCarlo described. Tensions have risen between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah across the Blue Line, the border separating Israel and Lebanon. Repeated rocket fire has also occurred over the occupied Golan Heights between Israel and militias reportedly linked to Iran, accompanied by airstrikes attributed to Israel by Damascus on multiple locations in Syria, she added.
Additionally, DiCarlo noted the alarming rise in drone and missile attacks against ships in the Red Sea, with retaliatory strikes carried out by the United States and the United Kingdom.
In her closing remarks, DiCarlo reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres’ call on all parties to step back from the brink and consider the severe human and economic costs that a potential regional conflict would entail. She appealed to the Security Council to actively engage all concerned parties to prevent further escalation and the deterioration of tensions that threaten regional peace and security.
